Torch coral head dieing?

john2three · Sep 11, 2016

Hi everyone, I'm new to this site (great site by the way) and fairly new to reef keeping. Had a nano tank for a few years with a clown fish and few sps nothing special but 6 month ago upgraded to a reefer 250.

My worry is about a this new torch coral I've had for about two weeks. One of the 2 heads never looked happy since day one but now has totally retracted and discharging a gunge like substance. The other heads seam to be totally fine and eating shrimp and mysis fine. Rest of coral also looks great, Any ideas? Thanks guys

nex64 · Sep 11, 2016

Pics would help advise you.

john2three · Sep 11, 2016

Apologies

Tahoe61 · Sep 11, 2016

Welcome

The healthy polyps looks great. As long as your water chemistry is within normal limits and consistent values I would be hesitant to mess with the coral.
What type of flow in the area, moderate......?

I see cyanobacteria on the sand surrounding the piece, how are you addressing that?

john2three · Sep 11, 2016

Thanks and thanks for the reply, yeah it just under the cross flow pump so the flow is slow to moderate on the return, I wasnt too worried about it at the moment as it's just appeared after added my first fish, was kind of hoping the tank would ballance it's self out after a couple of weeks, what do you think? If it persists what do you think the best course of action would be? Lol

Joey waid · Sep 11, 2016

Tahoe61 said:
Welcome

The healthy polyps looks great. As long as your water chemistry is within normal limits and consistent values I would be hesitant to mess with the coral.
What type of flow in the area, moderate......?

I see cyanobacteria on the sand surrounding the piece, how are you addressing that?

How can you tell from the pic that is bacteria? Is it the color? How do you take care of it and why? Thanks....

Brandon42 · Sep 11, 2016

john2three said:
Thanks and thanks for the reply, yeah it just under the cross flow pump so the flow is slow to moderate on the return, I wasnt too worried about it at the moment as it's just appeared after added my first fish, was kind of hoping the tank would ballance it's self out after a couple of weeks, what do you think? If it persists what do you think the best course of action would be? Lol

i would start with peroxide dosing and maintaining low nutrients. cyano is like my nemesis lol if it gets real bad chemiclean works wonders but you really only want to do that if its really starting to get bad. the peroxide will help keep it at bay though. careful when you vac the sand bed though it spreads like wild fire

nex64 · Sep 11, 2016

Cyano is also caused from poor flow. As someone already mentioned, how is your flow? How many powerheads? Gph?

If your flow is low , maybe your euphyllia did catch some sort of bacterial infection. Low flow will cause that in all sorts of corals.

nex64 · Sep 11, 2016

Parameters would also help

john2three · Sep 11, 2016

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrates 5

For flow I have one jabeo 120 cross flow pump , don't have it on a whole lot of power, because it seems to stress the corals some what and they don't open up fully. But might take your advise and turn the power up a little bit if it might be a flow issue, it's only just appeared after adding a chaulk goby and presumed it was diatom algea. I'm screwed it if spreads by disturbing the sand bed cause that's all this goby does! Lol I'll keep my eye on it and hope it doesn't spread, you have me worried now lol

nex64 · Sep 11, 2016

I used to run a Ricordea only tank with one little powerhead. Long story short - my lack of flow allowed for a bacteria infection to take over some of my most prized ricordeas in just a night. Some scary ****e.

Even though most corals love low flow, we must provide them all with the necessary flow for the overall health. Although the corals seem stressed at first by the flow , they will adapt and thrive. The only issue with flow is proximity. Ensure your corals aren't sitting directly next to a powerhead so that coral tissue isn't harmed.

nex64 · Sep 11, 2016

Additionally, maybe you can start some sort of carbon dosing regime to lower those nitrates a bit.

BoneXriffic · Sep 11, 2016

Vaccing it is a must with peroxcide dosing, but the peroxcide will will keep it from spreading while manual removal. How old is your tank? Could be a part of the ugly stage and your tank just leveling off.

For the torch it could have been a problem prior to you getting it.

BoneXriffic · Sep 11, 2016

nex64 said:
Additionally, maybe you can start some sort of carbon dosing regime to lower those nitrates a bit.

As far as i know carbon wont reduce nitrate? But i wouldnt be concerned with a 5... its not terrible by any means. Especially for lps, just imo tho

nex64 · Sep 11, 2016

BoneXriffic said:
As far as i know carbon wont reduce nitrate? But i wouldnt be concerned with a 5... its not terrible by any means. Especially for lps, just imo tho

http://www.reefaquarium.com/2012/carbon-dosing-in-laymans-terms/

You are thinking of carbon, the media for reactors.

john2three · Sep 11, 2016

Well I've turned up the flow now and it's kicked up a right sand storm, the majority of flow goes across the top near the water surface and bounces back of the other side of tank so hopefully won't do any damage, as for the carbon the guy at the lfs told me not to bother after asking about reactors, he said it wouldn't do anything for the nitrates and because I don't have alot of softies realising toxins it be pointless, and to just stick with regular water changes. whether that's true or not? Well I'll keep a eye on it see how it goes. Thanks for the advise guys and I'll keep you updated!

john2three · Sep 11, 2016

The tank is 6 month old but the first fish went in 2 weeks ago and I've been spot feeding the torch as well as feeding the fish, that's why I presumed it was just diatoms and the tank needed to level it's self out.

paraletho · Sep 11, 2016

What I have noticed with my Euphyllia is that when they are really happy the tissue will extend down the stalk not just to the calyx (the rim of the cup that the polyps extend from). I see a little green on the stalk so I would guess previous unhappiness coupled with introduction shock. Keep your parameters good and it should be fine. What lights are you using? These corals really don't like being blasted like the Acros.

john2three · Sep 11, 2016

I'm using the maxpect razor 160 on 60% power I want to gradually turn it up to around 80 percent though think that might be too much? that tissue has actually grown in the last 3 or four days, so is that a good sign it's happy? Lol